Fees and Billing Arrangement
All SMSG centres are MIXED Billing medical practices. Each individual doctor (Specialist GPs and non-GP Specialists) and allied health professional are individual tenant practitioners (i.e., not employee doctor/practitioner) in our SMSG practice premises, and they set their own consultation fee schedules.
With the ongoing economic recession, many medical practices are struggling to sustain their practices without compromising patient care. The Medicare rebate freeze from 2013-2019 and minimal increases since have made it increasingly challenging to operate a viable practice. Operating costs have dramatically increased due to unsustainable inflation & staff salaries continue to increase from each fiscal year as per government requirements.
Good healthcare takes time. At SMSG we want to make sure your GP has the space to listen, avoid rushed appointments, understand your needs, and provide thorough enhanced preventative care. We want to reduce overcrowding and ultimately deliver a higher level of personalised service. Therefore, as Medicare rebates don’t cover the full cost of longer consultations, a fee applies to many appointments.
As of the 1st of January, 2025:
-
Patients who have been seen before the 1st of January, 2025 & ,originally BULK BILLED, will continue to be BULK BILLED (for routine consultations with a valid Medicare card) by a majority of their regular Specialist GPs (been seen by the individual Specialist GP within 12 months).
-
All patients who fall under the following categories will continue to be BULK BILLED (for routine consultations with a valid Medicare card) by the majority of GPs:
-
those aged 15yrs and under
-
government issued concession card holders
-
DVA Gold and White (if consult is related to the service connected conditions) holders
-
-
Registrar GPs continue to BULK BILL all patients for routine consultations.
Saturday Fee Schedule (Earlwood Medical Centre):
-
All patients who fall under the following categories will continue to be BULK BILLED by the GPs for routine consultations with a valid Medicare card:
-
those aged 15yrs and under
-
government issued concession card holders
-
DVA Gold and White (if consult is related to the service connected conditions) holders
-
-
All other patients will incur a consultation fee with Medicare rebate available.
*Please see the individual doctors profile for their specific billing schedule.
Procedural & Vaccination Fee Schedule:
A $90 deposit is applied to the following procedures, with patients holding a valid Medicare Card receiving a Medicare Rebate:*(Terms & Conditions Apply)
-
Complete Woman's Health Check includes Cervical Screening Test and Breast Check
-
Skin Check or Skin lesion / Skin cancer removal
-
Suturing of laceration
-
Plastering of fracture
-
Implanon/Mirena IUD insertion and / or removal
-
Treatment room procedures
-
Private Vaccines >$100
Kindly enquire with receptionist team for more information regarding Private Costs and Medicare Rebate. The practice offers Medicare Ezyclaim where your Medicare Rebate is paid back to your SAVINGS/DEBIT CARD immediately.
*T&C: Cancellation within 24hrs of the appointment or no shows will result in loss of the deposit. Rescheduling of the appointment is allowed no later than 24 hours before the appointment time.